Removable sound or/and display apparatus

ABSTRACT

This apparatus is fixed and connected by the same means (2) and it is housed in the space usually reserved for a light bulb or a cigar lighter; it is switched on and adjusted by means of collars (6, 7 and 8) or buttons situated on the body (1) next to the loudspeaker (5) or/and the display screen.

The invention relates to a removable sound or/and display apparatus.

It is known to wire shops and public places for sound by means ofloudspeakers disposed at certain places and broadcasting the same musicand the same messages at the same time by means of rather complex andcentralized installations, necessitating cumbersome and unsightlycables.

It is also known, to illuminate locally certain parts of premises bymeans of floodlights or spotlights fixed to tracks allowing a certainlatitude in positioning. These means of lighting consist of a lamp,fixed and supplied by electrical current by means of a screw or bayonetfitting, integral with an articulated sliding device mounted on a fixedtrack fixed to the ceiling or against the walls. This lamp is generallymounted in a housing which reduces the dispersion of the light rays andconcentrates them on a precise point.

It is also known to mount, in place of the cigar lighter of a vehicle, aspecial socket which may be fitted with clips permitting the supply ofelectrical current to a lamp or an apparatus.

The object of the invention is to utilize the same means of fixing andsupply for sound and possibly visual display as for lighting or for thesupply of electricity to apparatuses; that is, by utilizing theinfrastructure of the localized lighting, as described in the precedingparagraph, or the cigar lighter of a vehicle, and to individualize thesound or/and the display, according to the place, by means of aremovable apparatus specially designed for this use and this mode offixing and supply.

The main features of the sound or/and display apparatus according to theinvention are that it is fixed and connected to the mains supplies bymeans of a single device, that it is housed in the space usuallyreserved for a light bulb or the cigar lighter of a vehicle and that itis switched on and adjusted by means of collars or buttons situated onthe body of the apparatus.

The device which makes it possible to simultaneously ensure fixing andconnection to the mains supplies consists of a screw or bayonet systemanalogous or identical to that usually used to fix and supplyelectricity to light bulbs, or of a system with crocodile clipsanalogous or identical to that used on the cigar lighter of vehicles.

The loudspeaker or/and the display screen are mounted on the endopposite the device for fixing and connection.

In a particular embodiment, the loudspeaker, the enclosure or/and thedisplay screen are separate from the apparatus and connected to it bywires and sockets.

The power-on and adjusting collars or buttons are situated just abovethe loudspeaker in the case of an apparatus designed solely for sound,and on the front part of it when it is designed both for sound and forvisual display.

Its receiving frequency may be regulated to the transmission frequencyof a central transmitter situated in the same premises or the sameestablishment for purposes of broadcasting of music and of messages.

It may be combined with a lamp which may be switched on at will,independently of the apparatus.

This apparatus is entirely sealed.

Thus, as may be seen, this apparatus will, in its most general use, beable to be mounted at will in a floodlight or spotlight, in order toconstitute a particular sound end lighting device with the otherfloodlights or spotlights reserved soley for lighting, situated close byon the same supporting track or on neighbouring tracks, or, in a moreparticular use, it may be mounted in place of the cigar lighter of avehicle.

Other features and advantages will appear in the following descriptionof a sound installation according to the invention provided by way ofexample with regard to the appended drawing representing the apparatusreplacing a light bulb in a spotlight fixed on a track.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side, perspective, drawing of another embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 3 is a side, perspective, partially schematic drawing of yetanother embodiment of the present invention.

By examining the figure it will be noted in the example represented,corresponding to a radio set, the apparatus consists of a body 1,forming a housing, including, at one of its ends, a screw-type lamp base2 fitted with contacts permitting connection to the mains, by means of astandard screw-type fitting 3 mounted on a track 4 and, at the otherend, a loudspeaker 5 or a display screen. The selection of wavelengths,the selection of frequency, the switching on and the adjustment of thevolume of the sound are carried out respectively by means of therotating collars 6, 7 and 8 or by means of buttons as shown in FIG. 2,in which 10, 11, and 12 depict buttons for the various mentioned controlfunctions. The apparatus may be mounted in place of a light bulb notablyinside the housing 9 of a floodlight or spotlight, since its shape andits dimensions have been determined accordingly.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which a loudspeaker 14 is separate fromthe unit itself, and is connected thereto by wires 13.

There is no reason why the loudspeaker should not be completed by adisplay screen, on condition that the latter complies with certainparticular characteristics.

This apparatus may be designed to operate autonomously, receiving, bymeans of the connection device, only the electrical current necessaryfor its operation, replacing an electric light bulb, or to convert intoimages and sound signals transmitted by the electricity supply cable orby separate conductors connected to an autonomous central transmitter.

The fixing and supply device consists, in a preferred embodiment, of ascrew or bayonet system used to supply lighting lamps or of thecrocodile clip system used on vehicle cigar lighters, but other devicesenabling the apparatus to receive both the electrical energy and thesignals necessary for its operation may be envisaged, the screw, bayonetor clip fixing system being retained nonetheless as a means ofconnection.

This apparatus has the particular feature of being able to be mounted inany socket whatever, in place of a lamp, or in place of a cigar lighter,in order to be used for broadcasting music and messages in shops, publicplaces, and vehicles or any other place requiring wiring for sound,without resorting to a complex and costly installation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A removable sound apparatus for replacement of alight bulb normally held in a light bulb housing by socket means, saidremovable sound apparatus comprising a casing for said sound apparatus,said casing being adapted to be housed within said light bulb housing,and electrical connection means for said removable sound apparatusprojecting from said casing, said electrical connection means beingadapted for electrical connection to said socket means, whereby saidremovable sound apparatus can replace said light bulb normally held bysaid socket means.
 2. The removable sound apparatus to claim 1 whereinsaid electrical connection means is selected from the group consistingof screw and bayonet type fixtures.
 3. The removable sound apparatus ofclaim 1 including a control mechanism for said removable sound apparatusmounted on said casing opposite from said electrical connection meanswhereby said control mechanism is exposed with respect to said lightbulb housing when said casing is housed within said light bulb housing.4. The removable sound apparatus of claim 3 wherein said controlmechanism includes a plurality of circular rotatable collars.
 5. Theremovable sound apparatus of claim 3 wherein said control mechanismcomprises button members.
 6. The removable sound apparatus of claim 1including a loudspeaker mounted on said casing opposite from saidelectrical connection means whereby said loudspeaker is exposed withrespect to said light bulb housing when said casing is housed withinsaid light bulb housing.
 7. The removable sound apparatus of claim 6wherein said loudspeaker is separate from said sound apparatus andwherein said loudspeaker is connected to said sound apparatus byelectrical connection means.
 8. The removable sound apparatus of claim 1wherein said casing is entirely sealed.